Jess Cook » Our Staff

The More Light Presbyterians Staff and National Board of Directors

More Light Staff and Board at our 2018 Spring Board Meeting, on the campus of Union Presbyterian Seminary

More Light Presbyterians is supported by a dynamic staff and board of directors. More Light staff are available to visit your congregation or community group, and for individual consultation about furthering LGBTQIA+ inclusion. Please feel free to contact us if you have questions or just want to say hi!

The More Light Board consists of 15 persons elected by the membership of MLP or appointed to fill vacancies per the requirements in the by-laws.

Nominations to the National Board of Directors are made by a Nominations Committee. The Nominations Committee solicits the MLP membership for suggestions for nominees and considers both within its composition and its proposed slate of nominees the diversity of sexual orientations, differing abilities, racial-ethnic backgrounds, gender identities and expression, ages (in conformity with applicable laws), synod of residence, and MLP membership categories.

If you would like to contact a board member, please contact Alex and he will forward your request to the appropriate board member(s).

The More Light Presbyterians Staff

More Light Presbyterians is supported by a dynamic staff and board of directors. More Light staff are available to visit your congregation or community group, and for individual consultation about furthering LGBTQIA+ inclusion. Please feel free to contact us if you have questions or just want to say hi!

JessCook

Program & Communications Manager

Biography

Gender pronouns: they/them/theirs

Jess Cook is a candidate for ordination in the Presbyterian Church (USA). A native of East Texas and lifelong Presbyterian, Jess holds a Master of Divinity from Union Presbyterian Seminary, a Master of Fine Arts in Photography from the University of North Texas, and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art from Baylor.

Prior to joining MLP, Jess was the Youth Programs Director at Side by Side, an organization in Richmond, VA serving LGBTQIA+ youth. While at Side by Side, Jess worked with hundreds of young people through support groups, a leadership program, and various programs in the community. They created a parent support group and a meals program, and trained a wide variety of faith community leaders and service providers on best practices for working with LGBTQIA+ youth.

Jess’s call is to help facilitate spaces where reconciliation is possible, with the acknowledgement that reconciliation is only possible if we are able to be honest with ourselves and one another about the ways in which we are broken. True reconciliation requires relationships, and relationships require trust and vulnerability. Jess sees their role as helping make spaces where that vulnerability is celebrated and trust can be built. To learn more, check out Jess’s TEDxTalk on what faith communities can learn from LGBTQIA+ youth.

Jess loves poetry, liturgy, sharing meals, and pretty much any conversation about the ways we see the Spirit come to life in the world. They live in Richmond, VA with their lively child and dog. Click here to contact Jess.

National Board of Directors

The More Light Board consists of 15 persons elected by the membership of MLP or appointed to fill vacancies per the requirements in the by-laws.

Nominations to the National Board of Directors are made by a Nominations Committee. The Nominations Committee solicits the MLP membership for suggestions for nominees and considers both within its composition and its proposed slate of nominees the diversity of sexual orientations, differing abilities, racial-ethnic backgrounds, gender identities and expression, ages (in conformity with applicable laws), synod of residence, and MLP membership categories.

If you would like to contact a board member, please contact Alex and he will forward your request to the appropriate board member(s).